Meet Our Team

MEET STANLEY and SYLVIA DABNEY: For 40 years, Stanley and Sylvia have been living yachts, boating, cruising, living aboard and being totally immersed in bluewater sailing.  Stanley holds a degree from the University of Washington in Cartography (Christopher Columbus was a Cartographer) and Geography with a Master’s degree in Marketing.  Sylvia attended Washing State University and holds a degree from University of Washington, but after 4 years of living the “corporate life”, they went sailing one day and have never gone back to the corporate world and lifestyle.

They have lived aboard for 15 years, won innumerable sailboat races, both local and offshore long distance, cruised more than 60,000 offshore miles, from Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Washington, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean and up and down the Eastern Seaboard.  Both Stanley and Sylvia were licensed Captains and chartered their Valiant 40 for 8 years in the Caribbean, having more than 7,000 guests aboard, many of whom are still dear friends.

Stanley was one of the founding members of Valiant Yachts in Seattle and later was Vice President of Sales for Valiant Yachts in Texas. Sylvia has held 100 Ton U.S.C.G. Master’s License for over 35 years and is the author of the very successful book, “THE BOATER’S COOKBOOK”, which is far more than a cookbook. She advises owners about stocking, stowing, maintaining and being creative in all things aboard and shares stories of some of the people who contributed to the book, where they came from, from all over the world and how they all shared great adventures.

To say that as a team, they offer the most comprehensive knowledge of sailing, outfitting, cruising and living on a yacht and they understand YOUR dream of a sailing lifestyle is an understatement. Just ask any of the clients and friends that they have helped both in buying a boat and then selling their boat and you’ll know why they are considered “THE BEST OF THE BEST” in the Yacht Brokerage industry.

MEET JOHN CHANDONNET:  Long time racing and cruising sailor John Chandonnet, joined our team and represents Offshore Atlantic Yachts on the Chesapeake Bay, the HEART of sailing on the Eastern Seaboard and home of the U.S. Navy Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. John was in the Honors Program at the University of Maryland, originally hailing from Boston, Massachusetts and eventually residing in Annapolis, Maryland. His association with yacht clubs, cruising clubs and yachting groups has been his lifes passion. John, as a lifetime yachtsman and having owned multiple types of yachts and water craft, has been near and with some of the most famous world class sailors in the world and he brings a level of expertise in rigging and sailing, along with knowledge of “form and function” of every type of boat, that is unique in the Brokerage Yacht World. John covers the entire Mid-Atlantic region.

MEET GARRY DOMNISSE:  Garry is a two time Valiant owner, has been in yacht sales for many years and has been a personal friend for 30 years. Garry was raised “on the water” in Oregon, where his father was a commercial fisherman and where he gained a healthy respect for the sea and an appreciation for sea-worthy vessels. Garry bought his first boat as soon as he graduated college and then continued on with the family tradition of being on the sea by joining the U.S. Coast Guard as a commissioned officer, after graduation.

Now, as a retired LCDR in the U.S. Coast Guard, Garry holds a U.S. Coast Guard Captains license, a General Class Amateur License and gives seminars on boating, electronics and navigation. He and Carol are the authors the very successful cruising book, “OUR ISLAND IN THE SUN”.

After restoring and outfitting their live aboard sailboat, a classic Valiant 40’, he and his wife Carol (who also hails from generations of sailors), recently completed a voyage from California, through the Panama Canal to Annapolis Maryland. As a long term live aboard cruiser, Garry brings his knowledge of boats, the sea, living aboard, cruising and outfitting of yachts, to his many clients who find that working with a broker who has “been there, done that”, gives them a level of comfort and trust, often unavailable at most brokerage houses